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PHOENIX – The first lady of Phoenix is hosting a first-of-its-kind event designed to teach parents the sings of bullying and give them tools to help their children and possibly even save their kids’ lives.

Putting an end to bullying is something about which Nicole Stanton, wife of Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, is passionate. To that end, she launched the Stop Bullying AZ initiative in 2012. When Stanton hosted the Arizona Anti-Bullying Summit at Arizona State University to launch the initiative last year, she called bullying “a malignancy that has afflicted our schools for way too long.”

Her goal is to empower not just victims of bullying, but also bystanders who witness it.

The issue is close to her heart. Her older brother was bullied when they were kids. These days, bullying doesn’t just happen in schools, it also happens online.

Wednesday’s event is geared toward parents and will feature a panel discussion focused on the warning signs of bullying, a question-and-answer session and training for parents.

Kids who are targets of bullies often are reluctant to come forward, but there are signs for which parent can watch.

Unexplained injuries

Lost/damaged items (i.e. clothes, books, electronics, jewelry

Frequent headaches or stomach aches

Faking illness to avoid school or activities

Changes in eating or sleeping habits

Decreased self-esteem

Self-destructive behavior

“Where most other bullying events focus on policy and school climate, this is the first event ever to address concerns from parents and provide them with concrete actionable tools they can use in their own communities and in their own homes,” reads a news release about the event.

Rebecca Sedwick, 12, jumped to her death on Sept. 9. Authorities say she was bullied by as many as 15 girls. Two girls believed to be the ringleaders, a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old, have been charged with stalking and released to their parents.